Comms and PR Manager

About the role

The Financial Services Council is seeking a confident, sharp and inquisitive Media and Communications Manager to strengthen how New Zealand’s financial services sector is represented and heard.

This is a hands-on position for someone who can identify strong story angles, write clearly and persuasively, work confidently with the media, and translate complicated financial services topics into communication that is plain, useful and engaging.

You’ll contribute across media relations, member communication, thought leadership, social media, issues management and sector-wide campaigns. On some days you may be briefing a business journalist on KiwiSaver data; on others you might be preparing CEO talking points, drafting a member update on an advocacy result, or turning spreadsheet data into a headline-worthy insight.

The ideal candidate is comfortable operating between detail and narrative. You’ll need enough understanding of policy and commercial context to work effectively, while still writing in a way that is accessible to everyday readers. You should be steady under pressure, comfortable with journalists, and able to help senior leaders communicate with clarity and impact.

What you will do

• Identify and develop stories that raise FSC’s profile across media, members and the broader sector.
• Confidently pitch to business, finance, political and consumer journalists, and respond to media requests with sound judgement.
• Turn FSC research, sector data and policy topics into strong headlines, clear commentary and practical member communications.
• Draft media releases, opinion pieces, EDMs, speeches and talking points in a natural, human style.
• Support the CEO and senior leaders in delivering the right message across media, member and stakeholder audiences.
• Partner with policy, research, events and membership teams to keep FSC communications coordinated, timely and useful.
• Monitor coverage, sentiment and message uptake, then use those insights to improve how FSC communicates.

What you will bring

• A strong instinct for news and the confidence to make the first call.
• Excellent writing ability, with the skill to simplify complex issues without losing accuracy or interest.
• Sound commercial media judgement and an established or developing journalist network.
• Comfort working with numbers, spreadsheets, research and financial data to uncover the story.
• Calm decision-making under pressure, including the ability to write quickly and clearly when situations change fast.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders, including the ability to challenge weak messaging and improve it.
• Experience in financial services, insurance, KiwiSaver, investment, public policy, regulation or a membership-based organisation is a distinct advantage.

The person we are looking for

You could be an internal communications professional ready to take on a larger brief, a PR or corporate affairs specialist with strong media instincts, or a journalist with a sharp storytelling edge.

You do not need to be an expert in financial services from day one. What matters most is curiosity, sound judgement, pace and the ability to write exceptionally well.

This role will suit someone who enjoys being close to the action, turning detail into influence, and helping an industry tell its story more effectively.

The position acts as the GM’s key communications support: part media operator, part writer, part story finder and part issues support. It keeps day-to-day communications moving while helping FSC strengthen its voice, improve member communications and communicate more strongly on important issues.

We are looking for someone intelligent, curious and great to work with. You should bring good judgement, energy without ego, and a willingness to step in wherever the work is needed.

About us

The Financial Services Council is the representative voice of New Zealand’s financial services sector. Its members help improve financial confidence and wellbeing for New Zealanders, managing more than $140 billion in funds and paying out $2.8 billion in life and health insurance claims every year. The sector contributes over $16 billion to New Zealand’s GDP and plays an important role in helping people save, invest, insure and plan ahead.

FSC’s 100+ members include leading life, health, disability and income insurers, KiwiSaver and investment providers, workplace savings schemes, professional services firms and financial technology providers.

Additional information

Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Employment type: Full-time, onsite.

Experience expectation: 5+ years in communications, corporate affairs, media/journalism, or a PR agency.

Industry exposure that would be helpful includes financial services or a member organisation.

No vacancy count, salary, start date, duration or application deadline was specified.

Source formatting included brief bullet-style notes such as being comfortable taking calls from journalists, pitching stories, using business media networks, writing strongly, and working with balance sheets or spreadsheets; these capabilities are reflected throughout this description.

External site references and application tracking details have been omitted.